A lecturer from De Montfort University has been honoured at a major national awards ceremony for her work campaigning to improve road safety.
Meera Naran, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy, received the Spirit in the Community Award at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards, widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading celebrations of inclusion, leadership and diversity.
Picture credit: Brake Road Safety Charity
She was recognised for her tireless campaigning following the tragic death of her eight-year-old son, Dev, in a smart motorway collision in 2018. Since then, Meera has dedicated herself to improving road safety, influencing national policy on vehicle and road standards as well as driver education, while raising awareness both in the UK and internationally.
The GG2 awards celebrate outstanding contributions across sectors including medicine, law, technology and community service, and also showcase the GG2 Power List, recognising the most influential Asians in Britain.
Meera, who has previously been awarded an MBE for her services to road safety, attended the ceremony in London last week, where keynote speeches were delivered by senior political figures including David Lammy.
Speaking after receiving the award, Meera said: “It’s an honour to receive this recognition among such esteemed and inspirational leaders. It is also a proud moment to represent De Montfort University as we champion our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“This award reflects the dedication of our community to advancing safe and sustainable communities, expanding opportunity, promoting diversity, and empowering individuals to drive meaningful change and make a positive impact in society.”
The 2026 Spirit in the Community Award was sponsored by the Royal Navy – something Meera said carried special significance.
She added: “That’s especially meaningful to me – Dev always thought the Navy were really cool. He loved the discipline and would watch videos of their training. He wanted to be a surgeon, and it was something that really inspired him.”
